Improvement in self-detaching hooks for boats



v e. COSGRO'VE. SELF-'DETABHIN'G HOOKS FOR BOATS.

Patent-ed. Nov.28,1876.

No.184 701i xll II III llll Unrrnn STATE-s GEORGE coscnovn, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SELF-DETACHlNG HOOKS FOR BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 184,701, dated November 28, 1876; application filed T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE (JosGRovE, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Self-Detaching Hooks for Boat-Tackles and other purposes; and I do hereby declare that .the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to supply much simpler self-detaching hooks than those heretofore used, and such as may be made by,

any blacksmith of ordinary skill, and which will act with certainty and hold a suspended weight securely.

The invention is more specially designed for boat-tackle, but is applicable to many other useful purposes.

The invention consists in a tackle-block frame, constructed with downwardly-projecting lugs, between which are pivoted a pair of sister-hooks having weigh ted shanks and lugs, for the purpose which will be hereinafter described.

The invention also consists of other features of a novel construction, which will be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Figure l in the accompanying drawing is a side view of my self-detaching books, the hooks being closed in the position for supporting a boat or weight. Fig. 2 is also a side view, with r the hooks opened by the action of the weighted shanks. Fig. 3 is an edgewise view of the books, the same being closed.

In each of the figures the attachment of the hooks to a tackle-block is also shown.

T represents the frame of a tackle or pulley block, from which the lugs L extend downward, the sister-hooks H being pivoted at p to said lugs. The said'hooks are preferably of such a form, when used for boattackle, that, when closed, as shown in Fig. 1, they inclose a nearly-circular space for the reception of a ring; but this form may be varied for different purposes.

May 13, 1876.

Each hook has a shank, s, extending beyond the pivot 19, and each of the said shanks is loaded or weighted by a weight, w, and each of said shanks has, moreover, a lug, l, the said lugs overlapping the hooks are closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

When the hooks H are closed and the lugs lare overlapped, a pin, 12, may be inserted through the holes 71. in the lugs L, and the holes 71/ in the lugs lof the hooks H, which pin keeps and locks the hooks in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 3. The pin 1) is, for convenience, attached to the frame T of the tackle-block by a lanyard, c. To the shanks s of the hooks h are attached the ropes or cords O, which, when drawn taut, close and keep closed the said hooks.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the boat or other weight is to be raised, the hooks are lowered by the tackle and clasped into the ring or eyebolt of said boat or weight, and the ropes 0 close and keep the hooks closed when drawn taut, or the pin 1) is placed in the holes h h. The boat or other weight is then securely held by. the hooks. But the hooks constructed as shown in the drawing will not of themselves iinclasp after the suspension of the boat or other weight while the same is suspended, even if the ropes O are not kept drawn taut, or if the pin 10 be not placed in the holes h h, owing to the conformation of said books. The said ropes and pin, however, afl'ord additional security against the unclasping of said hooks by any accidental extraneous cause.

When it is desired to release the hooks, as after a boat has been lowered away, the pin 10 is taken out and the ropes O slackened. Then, as soon as the boat is sustained by the water, a slight further lowering of the tackleblock frame T allows the weights to on the shanks s of the hooks to fall and unclasp the hooks, as shown in Fig. 2.

1. The tackle-block frame T, having the down weirdly-projecting lugs L, in combination with the two sister-hooks H, pivoted together each other when within said'lugs L, and having weighted shanks s and lugs Z, substantially as and for the object specified.

2. The tackle-block frnm e T, having the downwardly-projecting lugs L, provided with" apertures h, the sister-hooks H, pivoted to get-her in said lugs L, and having weighted shanks s and lugs Z, provided with openings shown and described.

h, in combination with the enter the openings h and h for retaining the hooks in a locked position, substantially as GEORGE COSGROVE.

Witnesses:

FRED. HAYNES, B. W. HOFFMAN.

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